Difference between GPT and MBR

GPT (or GUID Partition Table) is the updated version of the MBR table scheme that’s available on computers with UEFI/EFI installed (not BIOS).

GPT may also be used on some computers that have BIOS installed and not UEFI/EFI. These type of disks have the following advantages:

It can have to 128 partitions vs. 4 partitions on a MBR disk

A single partition can have up to 256TB vs. 2TB maximum allowed space on a MBR disk

GPT disks can be read by the following Windows versions:

Windows XP 64-bit

Windows Vista

Windows 7

Windows 8

Windows Server 2003 and Server 2008

These disks can also be used to boot Windows from, but only the 64-bit Windows versions will boot from GPT: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows Server editions.

Note that you can boot Windows from GPT only if your computer has UEFI/EFI installed.

MBR disks are supported by all Windows versions. Removable disks, such as USB drives, can’t be converted to GPT. These removable disks are set as a MBR.

Convert GPT to MBR using Disk Management

To convert a GPT disk to MBR using the Disk Management utility, follow these instructions.

These instructions apply for these Windows versions: Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8 or 8.1. Disk Management is installed by default and it’s available on your Windows computer.

Boot into your Windows (Vista, 7 or 8)

Click Start

Go to Control Panel

Click Administrative Tools

Click Computer Management

On the left menu, click Storage > Disk Management

Select Disk Management from Storage

Right-click on each partition from the disk you want to convert from GPT. You must delete all partitions from the disk before you begin the converting process from GPT.

To do so, click Delete Volume on each partition until the entire disk has unallocated space.

Delete Volume

Right-click on the disk and click Convert to MBR Disk

Once the process is done, you can now create partitions on the new disk as you wish

Close Disk Management when done

Convert GPT to MBR using Command Prompt

If you’re not able to boot into Windows (Vista, 7 or 8) to run Disk Management and perform the converting process, you can also use Command Prompt (either from the original installation disc/USB or via Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials).

You can perform these steps either by booting into Windows and running Command Prompt from Start > Run > cmd or by using the original installation disc to open Command Prompt, if you can’t access Windows.

To do so, follow these steps:

Insert the Windows installation disc and restart your computer

Boot from the disc by pressing any key at the “Press any key” screen

Go to System Recovery Options

Windows Vista System Recovery Options

Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen

Click Command Prompt

Type:

diskpart

Press Enter

Type:

list disk

Press Enter

Remember the number of the disk (example: 2) you want to convert.

Type:

select disk 2

Where 2 is the number of the disk that’s going to be converted.

Press Enter

Type:

clean

Press Enter

Type:

convert mbr

Press Enter

Disk #2 is now being converted

You can type exit and hit Enter in Command Prompt to exit or continue setting up partitions on the new MBR disk.

To create new partitions using Command Prompt, follow these instructions:

Type:

create partition primary

Press Enter

Type:

list volume

Press Enter

Make sure the new volume is selected (look for the * on the left side) before you format the partition

Type:

format fs=ntfs

Press Enter

Type:

exit

Press Enter

If you don’t have access to a Command Prompt to run diskpart, use Command Prompt from Easy Recovery Essentials: